- City’s 27th anniversary of the return to Chinese rule will be marked by free tram rides coupled with concessions on tickets at key attractions
Cheap eats are on offer for the July 1 celebrations in Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly TseHong Kong will celebrate the 27th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule on July 1 this year. Over 1,000 restaurants and food markets will mark the occasion with discounts, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said yesterday.
Free museum visits and tram rides, as well as discounted tickets for some of the city’s attractions, would also be provided on July 1, Lee said.
“More than 1,000 restaurants including those located in the Hong Kong International Airport and The Arcade at Cyberport will offer discounts for celebrations,” Lee said before his weekly meeting with the Executive Council.
The Fish Marketing Organisation and Vegetable Marketing Organisation would also knock 29 per cent off designated products, he added.
The remaining 71 per cent is a play on “7/1” – a reference to July 1, the day the city was returned to Chinese rule by Britain.
Lee said the Hong Kong Science Museum, M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District, among others, would offer free entry to the public on July 1.
Offers of free guided tours, special deals in on-site stores and on dining and accommodation will run from late June to the end of July at 13 heritage projects in the government’s revitalisation of historic buildings through partnership schemes.
Ocean Park in Aberdeen is also expected to offer as much as a 30 per cent discount on its “all day delight” tickets between June 29 and July 1. The park normally charges HK$398 a head for adults and HK$239 each for children for the tickets.
The Ngong Ping 360 cable car attraction will knock more than 70 per cent off tickets for children and the elderly.
Lee said more details of the celebrations would be released later.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will also provide free entrance to its facilities on July 1 to encourage the public to take part in sports.
The authorities added that the public could make booking applications through the department’s SmartPLAY app for the free day from June 12-18.
Places will be allocated by ballot or on a first-come, first-served basis.
The MTR Corporation said adult commuters would be able to take free trips on Light Rail and MTR bus services in the Northwest New Territories and children could travel freely on rail lines, and also the Light Rail.
“We will also offer shopping rewards to support local consumption through various community-connected MTR Malls, including distributing 60,000 MTR Malls eCoupons to registered MTR Mobile users starting June 28,” the rail giant added.
MTR Corp takes Hongkongers back in time with exhibition of old trains
A special 27th anniversary website said vouchers for free ferry rides, including the Central to Hung Hom, North Point to Kwun Tong-Kai Tak routes, as well as the Cheung Chau route and Mui Wo route, would also be distributed.
People who use Green@Community recycling stations can also earn extra points that can be used to claim gifts from the Environmental Protection Department over the whole of July.
The police force, which is marking its 180th anniversary, will also organise activities on its social media platforms with model police cars as competition prizes for winners.
Lawmaker Tommy Cheung Yu-yan said that it was hoped breakfast, lunch and dinner discounts would be offered by restaurants across the city on July 1.
“It is also expected that some restaurants might knock more than 29 per cent off, which will help to boost the Hong Kong economy,” Cheung added.
Lee last year warned residents against any attempts to “hijack” the occasion, as had happened in 2019 during that year’s civil unrest.
He also emphasised that Hong Kong society was now happier, livelier and with more confidence and hope and that the city would continue to chase economic growth and development and boost its competitiveness.
Demonstrators stormed the Legislative Council complex on July 1, 2019, vandalised the building and spray-painted over the city’s emblem during the anti-government protests.
The opposition bloc had from 2003 held an annual march on the date until the Covid-19 pandemic struck three years ago.